English Grammar Exercises for B1 B2 – Review: modals

A. Cross out ONE sentence with a different meaning.

1    a   I don’t know how to drive but I’m going to learn.

      b   I’m planning to learn to drive though I don’t have to.

      c   I’m going to have driving lessons; I can’t drive yet though.

2    a   I must do a bit of shopping.

      b   I could get a few things in the shops.

      c   There are a few things I’ve got to buy.

3    a   You should get more sleep, then you wouldn’t be so tired.

      b   If you’re very tired, you ought to sleep more.

      c   You must get up earlier so you don’t get so tired.

4    a   You don’t have to take your mobile phone to school.

      b   You can’t take your mobile phone to school.

      c   You mustn’t have your mobile phone with you in school.

5    a   You’d better check your homework for mistakes.

      b   You ought to make sure there aren’t any mistakes in your homework.

      c   You could check that your homework doesn’t have mistakes in it.

6    a   You mustn’t wear smart clothes to this party.

      b   At this party we don’t have to wear smart clothes.

      c   There’s no need to wear smart clothes for this party.

7    a   Are we able to buy tickets for the show from the website?

      b   Have we got to use the website to buy tickets for the show?

      c   To buy tickets for the show, do we have to use the website?

B. Match the pairs.

a   so she had to go to school.

b   so she didn’t have to go to school.

c   so she wasn’t able to go to school.

a   so I needn’t have got up so early.

b   so I was able to get up early.

c   so I needed to get up early.

a   because it was dirty.

b   because it was really cold.

c   because it wasn’t cold.

a   because his old one is broken.

b   because his mum was with him.

c   because it was very expensive.

C. Underline the correct option.

1   I’m sure the traffic is really bad today. That must / can’t be the reason why Eva is so late.

2   I don’t really know where Wayne is at the moment. He must / might be in his bedroom.

3   Newspapers sometimes invent things, so this story might not / mustn’t be true.

4   Lots of my friends have passed that test, so it can’t / could be all that difficult.

5   Fashions change very quickly these days, so you can / may not like this style next year.

6   I’m thinking of going to the cinema with some friends this evening, so I must not / might not be here when you come back.

7   We don’t yet know if we’re leaving next Tuesday or next Wednesday. It could / can be either of the two.

8   Mrs Mallet doesn’t drive, so that can’t / mustn’t be her car.

9   Sometimes computers are difficult to repair, so yours can’t / may not be ready for a few more days.

10   This is the first time that Andrea’s ever run 10 kilometres, so she must / can’t be very tired.

D. Complete each sentence b so that it has a similar meaning to sentence a. Use a modal verb from the box and the correct form of the verb in brackets.

1    a   I’m sure schools 50 years ago weren’t the same as they are nowadays. (be)

      b   Schools 50 years ago ……must have been…… very different from nowadays.

2    a   It’s possible that Josef went to school by bus. (take)

      b   Josef …………………………… the bus to school.

3    a   I’m sure their holiday wasn’t very nice because the weather was terrible. (have)

      b   With that terrible weather, they …………………………… a very nice holiday.

4    a   I wonder if Jayne remembers how to get here. (forget)

      b   Jayne …………………………… how to get here.

5    a   I’m sure Chloe isn’t still looking for her watch. (find)

      b   Chloe …………………………… her watch by now.

6    a   We are going in the wrong direction. (miss)

      b   Yes, we …………………………… a turning.

7    a   Shakespeare and Voltaire weren’t alive at the same time, so they definitely never met. (know)

      b   Shakespeare and Voltaire weren’t alive at the same time, so they …………………………… each other.

8    a   Alison looks happy about her exam results, so she’s certainly done well. (do)

      b   Alison looks happy about her exam results, so she …………………………… well.

9    a   I’m not sure it’s right to blame Ray for that mistake. (make)

      b   Ray …………………………… that mistake.

10 a   Joe can’t open the door. Maybe he can’t remember where he put the key. (lose)

      b   Joe can’t open the door. He …………………………… the key.

E. Cross out ONE incorrect option.

1   …… have something to eat?

      a Shall we     b How about     c Why don’t we

2   …… if my brother comes with us?

      a Is it all right     b Do you think     c Do you mind

3   …… you give a message to Claudia for me please?

      a Shall     b Would     c Could

4   …… waiting for a few minutes?

      a Could you     b Would you mind     c How about

5   …… help me with this homework please?

      a Do you think you could

      b Could you possibly

      c Would you mind

6   That bag looks heavy. …… help you with it?

      a Shall I     b Would I     c Can I

7   …… I borrow your dictionary?

      a Do you mind if     b May

      c Would you mind

8   …… we meet at about 5 o’clock tomorrow?

      a Why don’t     b Could     c Let’s 

F. Complete the dialogue with one or two words in each space. Sometimes more than one answer is possible.

Leo:   Hi, Laura. Is everything OK?

Laura:   Not really. I’m on the train and it keeps stopping. There 1……must…… be a problem. 2………………… you ring the hospital and tell them I’m going to be late? I don’t have the number with me. I 3………………… left it at home.

Leo:   Oh no! I’ll 4………………… try and find it. You 5………………… caught the earlier train.

Laura:   I know – I 6………………… left at 7.00 but I didn’t want to get up so early!

Leo:   What time are you seeing the doctor?

Laura:   9.00, but you 7………………… to arrive 20 minutes before to give them your details.

Leo:   Oh dear. You’d 8………………… get a taxi from the station or you’re going to be really late. Well, I’ll ring them, but you 9………………… have to go again another day. Why 10………………… go and get a coffee? I’ll ring you back.

Laura:   Thanks, Leo! I 11………………… imagine what I’d do without you!